US 2015/0082536 A1Published application

Sink-Support Assembly for Providing a Waterproof Sink Installation and Method of Providing a Waterproof Sink Installation

AssigneeAldrich Fabrication Center, Inc.

InventorGregory J. Aldrich

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Abstract

A waterproof sink insert for installing an under-mount sink in a built-up surround having a non-waterproof support structure so as to inhibit water damage to the support structure. The sink support insert is mounted within an insert opening formed in the support structure. The sink support insert comprises a mounting region located radially inward from the outer periphery of the sink support insert. The sink is secured to the sink support structure within the mounting region. The sink support insert may optionally include one or more apertures for receiving a faucet or other sink appurtenance(s).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A sink-support assembly for installing a sink having a weight into a countertop for providing a finished sink installation that includes a faucet, the sink-support assembly comprising:

a sheet substrate made of a non-waterproof material, said sheet substrate comprising:
a supportive inner periphery defining an insert opening;
and
a planar upper surface designed and configured to adhesively receive countertop surfacing in the finished sink installation;
and
a sink-support insert secured to said sheet substrate and designed and configured to carry the weight of the sink to said sheet substrate in the finished sink installation, said sink support insert comprising a plate made of a waterproof material, said plate:
having a planar upper surface designed and configured for adhesively receiving countertop surfacing when the sink-support insert is in the finished sink installation;
having a lower surface;
having an outer periphery conformally engaging said supportive inner periphery of said sheet substrate so that in the finished sink installation:
said supportive inner periphery vertically supports said sink-support insert and the sink and the faucet attached thereto in the finished sink installation;
and
said planar upper surface of said plate is flush with the planar upper surface of said sheet substrate;
wherein said plate is sized and configured to receive a sink opening spaced from said outer periphery of said plate so as to define a sink mounting region and a spacing between said sink mounting region and said outer periphery of said plate that is:
selected to provide a waterproof faucet mounting region sized and configured to receive a faucet aperture for receiving therethrough a portion of the faucet in the finished sink installation;
and
selected to decrease, in the finished sink installation, a likelihood of any water that infiltrates between the sink and said sink mounting region migrating to the sheet substrate along said lower surface of said plate.

13 more elements

A method of fabricating a sink-support assembly for installing into a finished sink installation comprising a sink and countertop surfacing, wherein the sink has a weight, the method comprising:

providing a sheet of waterproof material having a first planar upper surface for receiving the countertop surfacing in the finished sink installation;
fabricating a sink-support insert from the sheet of waterproof material, wherein said fabricating the sink-support insert includes:
sizing the sink-support insert to accommodate a sink opening that defines a sink mounting region and a spacing between the sink mounting region and an outer periphery of the sink-support insert that is:
selected to provide a waterproof faucet mounting region sized and configured to receive a faucet aperture for receiving therethrough a portion of the faucet in the finished sink installation;
and
selected to decrease, in the finished sink installation, a likelihood of any water that infiltrates between the sink and the sink mounting region migrating to the outer periphery along said lower surface of said plate;
providing a sheet of non-waterproof material having a second planar upper surface for receiving the countertop surfacing in the finished sink installation;
fabricating a sheet substrate from the sheet of non-waterproof material, wherein said fabricating the sheet substrate includes:
forming an insert opening in the sheet substrate;
and
providing the sheet substrate with a supportive inner periphery at the insert opening, wherein the supportive inner periphery is configured to:
provide vertical support against gravity to the sink support insert for transferring the weight of the sink to the sheet substrate in the finished sink installation;
and
engage the outer periphery of the sink-support insert so that the first planar upper surface is flush with the second planar upper surface;
and
securing the sink support insert to the sheet substrate in the insert opening so that the first planar upper surface is flush with the second planar upper surface.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/556,957Filed 1 Dec 2014
Priority: 7 Sep 2004
Published: 26 Mar 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

E03C 1/33
Holders or supports for basins: fastening sinks or basins in an apertured support
Y10T 29/49826
Method of mechanical manufacture: assembling or joining
E03C
Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water
Y10T
Technical subjects covered by former us classification

Family

Application60/607,647Us provisional application · filed 7 Sep 2004
Application11/078,754Continuation · filed 11 Mar 2005
Application14/556,957Continuation
US 2006/0048295 A1Published application
US 8,898,827 B2Related patent
US 9,091,047 B2Related patent
US 2015/0082536 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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